Text extracted from Gill B.J.; Bell, B.D.; Chambers, G.K.; Medway, D.G.; Palma, R.L.; Scofield, R.P.; Tennyson, A.J.D.; Worthy, T.H. 2010. Checklist of the birds of New Zealand, Norfolk and Macquarie Islands, and the Ross Dependency, Antarctica. 4th edition. Wellington, Te Papa Press and Ornithological Society of New Zealand. Pages 138 & 153-154.

Order PELECANIFORMES: Pelicans, Gannets, Cormorants and Allies The close relationship between the families Sulidae, Phalacrocoracidae and Anhingidae has been supported by most recent work, however, the monophyly of the traditional larger grouping of Pelecaniformes is the subject of ongoing debate (e.g. Sibley & Ahlquist 1990, Johnsgard 1993, Christidis & Boles 1994, Kennedy et al. 2000, Livezey & Zusi 2001, van Tuinen et al. 2001, Fain & Houde 2004, Kennedy & Spencer 2004, Nelson 2005, Christidis & Boles 2008). For this reason we have separated Phaethontidae to its own order. We are aware that Pelecanus may be related to Ciconiiformes (see Christidis & Boles 2008), but we retain the traditional grouping in the absence of a resolution of these higher-level relationships. Given the uncertainty, the suborders and superfamilies followed by Checklist Committee (1990) have not been used here. Otherwise, a traditional approach to the families is retained, pending resolution of the issues. The sequence of pelecaniform families follows Checklist Committee (1990) for consistency, and agrees with del Hoyo et al. (1992). The sequence of species within families follows Checklist Committee (1990) unless noted.

Family FREGATIDAE Degland & Gerbe: Frigatebirds Fregatinae Degland & Gerbe, 1867: Ornithologie européenne 2(11): 357 – Type genus Fregata Lacépède, 1799.

Genus Fregata Lacépède Fregata Lacépède, 1799: Tableaux Method. Mamm. Oiseaux: 15 – Type species (by subsequent designation) Pelecanus Aquilus Linnaeus = Fregata aquila (Linnaeus). Tachypetes Vieillot, 1816: Analyse Nouv. Ornith. Elem.: 63 – Type species (by monotypy) Pelecanus minor Gmelin = Fregata minor (Gmelin). Atagen G.R. Gray, 1841: List Gen. Birds (2nd edition): 101 – Type species (by original designation) Pelecanus minor Gmelin = Fregata minor (Gmelin). Parvifregata Mathews, 1920: Birds Australia (Suppl. 1) 1: 64 – Type species (by original designation) Atagen ariel G.R. Gray = Fregata ariel (G.R. Gray).

Several frigatebirds seen at Norfolk Island (Christian 2005), and none of those at the Kermadec Islands (Veitch et al. 2004), have been identified to species.

Fregata minor Gmelin Great Frigatebird Pelecanus minor Gmelin, 1789: Syst. Nat., 13th edition 1(2): 572. Based on the “Lesser Frigate Pelican” of Latham 1785, Gen. Synop. Birds 3(2): 590 – no locality = Christmas Island, Indian Ocean (fide Lowe 1924, Novit. Zool. 31: 306).

Five subspecies commonly accepted, breeding on islands in the following regions (Dorst & Mougin 1979, del Hoyo et al. 1992, Dickinson 2003): F. m. aldabrensis Mathews, 1914 (west Indian Ocean), F. m. minor (Gmelin, 1789) (Indian Ocean and South China Sea), F. m. palmerstoni (Pacific Ocean), F. m. ridgwayi Mathews, 1914 (east Pacific Ocean), and F. m. nicolli Mathews, 1914 (Atlantic Ocean). However, Marchant & Higgins (1990) recognised no subspecies. The common name great frigatebird is adopted for this species, following the discussion by Marchant & Higgins (1990).

Fregata minor palmerstoni Gmelin Great Frigatebird Pelecanus Palmerstoni Gmelin, 1789: Syst. Nat., 13th edition 1(2): 573. Based on the “Palmerston Frigate Pelican” of Latham 1785, Gen. Synop. Birds 3(2): 592 – Palmerston Island, Pacific Ocean. Fregata aquila; Buller 1873, History of the Birds of N.Z., 1st edition: 339. Not Pelecanus aquilus Linnaeus, 1758. Tachypetes aquila; Buller 1888, History of the Birds of N.Z., 2nd edition 2: 182. Not Pelecanus aquilus Linnaeus, 1758. Tachypetes aquilus; Cheeseman 1891, Trans. Proc. N.Z. Inst. 23: 223. Not Pelecanus aquilus Linnaeus, 1758. Fregata aquila palmerstoni (Gmelin); Mathews & Iredale 1913, Ibis 1 (10th ser.): 417. Fregata minor peninsulae Mathews, 1923: Bull. Brit. Ornith. Club 44: 15 – Raine Island, Queensland, Australia. Fregata minor palmerstoni (Gmelin); Peters 1931, Check-list Birds World 1: 96. Fregata minor (Gmelin) subspecies; Checklist Committee 1953, Checklist N.Z. Birds: 31. Fregata minor; Checklist Committee 1970, Annot. Checklist Birds N.Z.: 33. Not Pelecanus minor Gmelin, 1789. Fregata minor peninsulae Mathews; Checklist Committee 1990, Checklist Birds N.Z.: 86.

About 15 records from the New Zealand region since 1855, including at Norfolk Island; the most southerly being Westport (Oliver 1930, Checklist Committee 1953, Edgar 1972b, Taylor & Parrish 1991, Moore 1999, Medway 2000a, Fryer 2004). Former attribution of New Zealand birds to F. m. peninsulae

(Checklist Committee 1990) followed Condon (1975), but that name is a junior synonym of F. m. palmerstoni (see Dorst & Mougin 1979).

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